Apple Dump Cake Recipe

When fall rolls around, there's no doubt that apple season is in full force. People flock to the apple orchards for a family adventure, and most of the time, they end up with a massive bucket of apples that they need to utilize. Sure, you can enjoy apples plain or dip them in caramel, but why not use apples for a simple dessert instead? This apple dump cake is far easier than apple pie and requires just a handful of ingredients to make. With just little prep time, this recipe is pretty much a no-brainer to fix up for the apple lover in all of us.

Recipe developer Melissa Olivieri created this great dessert to serve a crowd. "This is probably the easiest dessert you can make with all the flavors of fall! A great dessert you have on hand for the upcoming holidays," Olivieri shares. "The fact that it is so quick and easy to make — it is amazing for last minute guests," Olivieri says." So, what makes it so easy to make? Well, you won't be making the cake part from scratch — instead, you'll use a box cake mix, which is ready to take on those warm fall flavors. "The addition of the apple pie spice gives it a nice fall flavor I love," Olivieri says.

This recipe is as easy as they come, requiring just a handful of ingredients. Head to the store and get vanilla cake mix, apples (preferable Gala or Cortland), lemon juice, apple pie spice, granulated sugar, and unsalted butter.

To start the prep work, set your oven to 375 F and take out a 9x13-inch baking dish. Lightly grease it and then set to the side.

Then, grab a medium-sized bowl and add the chopped apples and lemon juice. Stir well to coat the apples in lemon juice. Then, add the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish.

Take out the granulated sugar and sprinkle it over the apples. At this time, you can also add another excellent fall flavor — apple pie spice, which is also the secret ingredient for this recipe. "The apple pie spice is definitely a nice addition that most people wouldn't think to add," Olivieri says. Use a wooden spoon to stir the apples and coat well in the sugar and apple pie spices.

Now, it's time for the box of vanilla cake mix. Open it up and add it to the top of the apples, and mix once again to combine. Then, pour the melted butter over the dish and shake to distribute evenly. If you find clumps of cake, simply use a wooden spoon to break them apart.

Pop the apple dump cake into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Once the top turns a nice golden brown color, that's a good indicator that it's done cooking. Olivieri warns not to overcook this dish. "When it is golden on top and bubbling around the edges it is done," she says. 

Are you ready to dig in? Believe it or not, the prep work and baking are done, and it's already time to enjoy this fall-inspired dessert. Serve on a plate or in a dish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Olivieri also shares a few other serving suggestions to jazz up this dish. "We enjoyed it with whipped cream at our Thanksgiving dinner and it was so nice," she shares. "Sometimes you want that little bit of creamy vanilla but don't want the heaviness of ice cream!" 

If you have a little left, save it for a rainy day. "Put it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge," Olivieri says. "I would say no longer than 3 days, but honestly the leftovers won't even last that long."